Finding Jasper in this room had been a blessing. He was one of the few friendly faces who I knew would support me around here.Most of Lucian’s family didn’t think much of me at all, believing I never deserved him. Did they still think that, I wondered? Some of the glances sent my way were more pity
Aria’s POVIn response to Julia’s question, I gave her a sad, small smile. That seemed to be enough for her, as her brow immediately pulled together.“Oh, Aria. No.”“I’m sorry,” I told her. Glancing at Harold, I added, “Truly. But I am serious about this. I imagine things will be properly resolved
Lucian’s POVJasper’s words didn’t surprise me overmuch, but they did unearth some lingering annoyance that I thought I had buried deep down inside of me.“So you are dating her,” I grumbled.“Is that what I said?” Jasper asked, his tone utterly irritating with how smug it sounded.I didn’t have tim
“Get out of my face, Jasper.”He shrugged. “Don’t say no one told you the truth. Someday you’ll realize it for yourself, but by then it will be too late. It’s too late now.” Jasper motioned toward Aria. “She doesn’t want you, cousin. And she never will again.”The hole in my chest pulsed, causing me
Aria’s POVEven from where I am sitting in an adjoining room, I hear Sheila’s arrival and her announcement.“Lucian’s… date?” I gasp.Through the doorway, I watched as Lucian turned to look at me, our eyes locking across the room.My already wounded heart urged him to deny Sheila’s claims. Instead,
Aria’s POV“She has to be drunk or something,” people whispered all around.“There’s no way that’s the truth.”“Lucian would marry Sheila, after everything she did? No, it has to be a lie.”Hearing the whispers, I sunk further and further into myself.Julia looked at me in shock, but I couldn’t repl
Aria’s POVWhatever plans I had to break away and retrieve my diary immediately leave my mind the moment Harold started to drop.Lucian caught him first, then eased him down to the ground. But, in the next moment, I was right there beside him, checking his heartrate and his breathing.His pulse was
Jasper’s POVJasper had known Lucian all his life, but this was the first time he had ever seen Lucian looking so defeated. The Alpha King, usually so regal and composed, was, in this moment, like a shadow of his former self. He was hollowed out, curled in on himself with his forehead pressed to the
He didn’t seem to mind. In this, as in most things lately, Lucian had allowed me to take the lead. He’d remained supportive and contributed his ideas and opinions, but never once anymore did he state his opinions as law or facts. Instead, we’d had conversations where we weighed the pros and cons of
Jean’s POV“Come on, Luke,” Jean said, tugging on her brother’s sleeve. “I don’t want to be late.”“We won’t be late, Jean,” Luke replied with unfounded confidence. “They won’t start without us.”While the guests had been taking their seats in the wooden fold-out chairs arranged on the beach, and th
In a flash, Lucian was there instead, stepping into the space between us. I couldn’t see what happened, but I smelled Lucian’s blood. My wolf whined in sympathetic pain.The rest of the bottle quickly smashed on the floor.In the end, William was bound to a chair, treated even as the police were on
Aria’s POVIn our little house in Moonglow, I woke up early to head into work. Lucian woke up at the same time as me, I think to have tea with me in the little kitchen. He always took the kids to school before he started his assistant job at the clinic.“You sleep okay?” I asked him, as he heated up
She was beautiful. Why had I never noticed before?Why was I noticing now?Quickly, I looked down at the menu. It was far too soon for a new romance, not if I wanted to find one for real. I wasn’t about to play around with Cathy’s heart, when she had come to be such a friend.And I didn’t want to pl
Jasper’s POVA couple of days after I punched Lucian, and he quit and ran off with Aria, Cathy invited me out to lunch. Sitting across from me now, in a café that we tended to frequent when we got together, she was looking at me as one might a wounded animal, as if trying to determine if I needed co
But Jasper’s words still rang true. When was the last time, as Alpha, I had ever been happy?The job made me miserable, even before Aria had left me. Constant pressure, constant responsibility, constant ridicule, limited thanks. Years and years of it had worn me down, eroded like a rock in the water
Lucian’s POVJasper’s punch caught me by surprised. I stumbled back, nearly into the elevator again as the doors started to close. He definitely broke my nose. Holding it, I stepped forward again, back off the elevator. Blood dripped down onto my shirt.Jasper had several different reasons to be pis
Over the next few days, I didn’t see Lucian at all. Presumably he saw the kids after I took them to spend time with their grandparents. Harold was out of the hospital and eager to see the kids.With the kids there, I returned to Cathy’s and started packing up my clothes and that of the kids. Cathy w